Re: noisy rack, as a weldor, I suggest taking it to fab shop and asking them if they have any suggestions on how to make your rack quieter without compromising strength or utility.
That does suck so I made a short 12" jumper extension for the 4-pin harness that I keep plugged into the socket. I can then just connect my trailer plug to it without climbing under the rear bumper. When not in use, I just tuck it in and against the round trim piece.
A standard pin can be used but you may need to remove the hitch cover and black trim ring to insert it if it's a bit long. I have a short pin that I can insert just by pulling the black trim out a little bit.
I thought I should mention this for those other owners that live and enjoy living in cooler climates. I washed my car the other day during a warm spell (here in upstate NY) and yesterday went to get gas and found the fuel door frozen shut. Luckily, I was able to get it unstuck with a few...
I change my own oil and rotate the tires (including the spare) myself every 5k. Its not that hard. I worry about the wheels getting scratched and then dealing with the shop that did it. I keep the receipts and log all maintenance activities and gas fill-ups.